Lapid to Police: Don’t Use Excessive Force Against Protesters

By Shmuel Smith

YERUSHALAYIM — In an unusual pre-demonstration dialogue, Israeli police have asked demonstrators to obey the law and police have been asked not to use violence against them.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid sent a letter to police chief Kobi Shabtai on Thursday requesting an assurance that they won’t use “excessive force” against anti-government protesters who are gearing up for massive gatherings on Motzei Shabbos. Specifically, he asked Shabtai to order his men not to use water cannon to disperse crowds.

“These protesters are the biggest lovers of Israel and that’s how you should treat them,” Lapid wrote. “I expect you to instruct the police to treat them with respect and to do everything to ensure that they can make their legitimate protests.”

There was no comment as yet from the police on Lapid’s letter.

Earlier in the day, Israel Police issued a statement saying that they have information indicating that elements among the protesters plan to block roads and engage in other illegal activities.

“From the intelligence picture, there is a fear of disturbances,” said the police.

The announcement emphasized that “in order to be able to ensure public peace and the protest to be held in full, the Israel Police again called on the organizers of the protest and the participants to maintain order and allow the protests to be held according to the law. The police reiterated that they are working to allow the holding protests for all demonstrators, but at the same time they will not allow any violation of public order and will not allow the use of Nazi symbols,” which were displayed in demonstrations a week before.

Lapid said he will not attend the protest after being informed that he and National Unity leader Benny Gantz would not be allowed to address the crowd.

Gantz, however, said on Thursday that he intends to be there, and reiterating his own call for people to express their freedom of speech within the law.

The anti-Netanyahu Black Flag movement, which is one of the organizers of the demonstration, claimed that the police were cooperating with Minister Ben-Gvir against the protest.

“It seems that the spirit of the convicted criminal Ben-Gvir is hovering over the police, who are trying to de-legitimize a democratic protest and paint it as violent. We call on the general public to come and demonstrate against the coup d’état and to completely ignore the lies of the police,” they said in a statement.

A few days ago, Ben Gvir made headlines by instructing the police to arrest anyone who blocks roads, and to treat left-wing and right-wing demonstrators equally. Police officials reportedly denied any favoritism in their handling of different groups, and that they would enforce the law as they always do.

As national security minister Ben Gvir reportedly met with senior police officials on Thursday to prepare for the demonstrations on Motzei Shabbos.